Island



(No Model.)

J. P. MANTO'N.

MEANS POB, TowING vEssBLs.

Patented Apr. 26, 1892.

UNITED STATES j PATENT OFFICE.

lJOSEPH P MANTON, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

MEANS FOR TOWING VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 473,471, dated April 26, 1892.

Application iiled September 15,1891l Serial No. 405,737. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH P. MANTON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Providence, in the county of Providence, State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Towing Vessels; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in means for4 towing vessels; and it consists in the combination, with a barge or vessel, of a grip-standard and a grip pivotally connected with said standard.

It also consists in the combination of a grip pivotally connected with its standard and a windlassdrum for taking up and storing the towing-hawser. The breaking strain of a hemp hawser four inches in diameter, such as is commonly used for deep-sea towing, is less than that of a wire hawser one and one-fourth inches in diameter. The hemp hawser absorbs water, adding resistance,and thus causes an unnecessary expenditure ot power for a given amount of work. A wire hawser of about the same tensile strength as a hemp hawser costs about the same and will lastfive times as long.

The object of my invention is to provide means for gripping and handlingwire hawsers, so as to secure the advantages of convenient stowage, freedom from saturation, and great durability.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a barge, showing my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 isa plan ot the gripstandard and grip. Fig. 3 is a plan of the hawser-windlass. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of grip blocks or jaws. Fig. 5 is a crosssection through the grip on the line c of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is also a cross-section of an auxiliary or hand grip for pushing the Wire hawser and its gripping-jaws into the socket or j avv-holder.

A is a barge or other oating vessel.

B is a standard or frame' securely bolted to the forward deck of the barge for supporting the grip.

O is a body provided with trunnions for mounting, so as to swing or vibrate on the standard, and with a conical bore or socket for grasping and bringing the gripping-jaws or segments together, and with a slot c, through which the hawser may be brought laterally within said socket. It also has links or latches c for sustaining the body against the wedging strain ot' the grip-jaws.

D D are the jaws proper, made of segments of a cone with a passage between them for grasping the hawser. These jaws are provided with recesses along the hawser-passage, in which I secure rubber or felt or other like material for gripping contact with the hawser to prevent galling and cutting the hawserwires. Each of lthe segments is also provided with a loop or handle d for convenience in handling them and for withdrawing them from the socket to take up or pay out the hawser.

E is a windlass mounted ou the deck of the barge behind the grip-standard. By preference the windlass is placed att on the barge, so that the hawser will 'lead and wind :regularly Without an automat-ic feeding arrangement. Obviously the windlass may be arranged just abatt the grip, provided an automatic feeder is introduced between them.

F is an auxiliary or hand grip similar in construction and voperation with the main grip. The jaws ot' this grip are clamped upon the rope by bolts, and, being provided with handlesff, afford means for handling the rope and pushing main grip-jaws in place.

In operation the hawser is paid out from the windlass and made fast to the tug. It is then introduced to the socket of O through the slot c. The links or latches c are then adjusted and the-gripping jaws D D are placed upon or around the hawser and inserted into the socket. Vhen the hawser is made taut, the conical form of the jaws and socket causes a iirm grip upon the rope. To take in or pay out cable, the jaws are loosened by starting up the winch and then are drawn out of the socket by winch or hand, as most convenient.

Having now described my invention, whatI claim is- 1. The combination of a standard, a socketed body pivotedly connectedwith said standard, and segmental gripping-jaws fitted to said socket, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a standard, a sock- IOO eted body provided with a lateral slot leading or handles and with recesses to embrace the to said socket, and segmental gripping-jaws rope and means, as bolts, for opening and fitted tosaid socket,substantiallyasdescribed. closing the jaws, substantially as described. 3. The combination of a standard, a swiv- In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 5 eled sooketed body mounted in said standard the presence of two Witnesses.

having a lateral slot and segmental grippingjaws, substantially as described. JOSEPH P. MANTON.

L A hand gripping device for handling Witnesses: Wire cables, consisting of the combination of GEO. F. SEABURY, 1o segmental blocks or jaws provided Withloops JOSEPH P. MANTON, J1'. 

